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Jefferson Bought County Landmark 250 Years Ago
At a landmark ceremony on July 5, Rockbridge County, the commonwealth of Virginia, and Natural Bridge State Park will commemorate the 250th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of the Natural Bridge from King George III, that very same day in 1774.
On the Friday morning of the long holiday weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to gather under the arch of this county’s iconic, namesake treasure, dedicated as Virginia’s 37th state park in 2016. An 11 a.m. ceremony will feature local, state and national leaders who will speak to the varied legacies that extend from Jefferson’s acquisition, a “Bridge to Revolution” spanning from the 18th to 21st centuries.
Keynote remarks will be shared by the Del. Terry Austin of the 37th District, who was appointed as chair for the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission in 2020. The collaboratively planned ceremony also features representatives from the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation, Natural Bridge State Park, and the VA 250 Commission. Invited speakers from Monticello, the Rockbridge Historical Society, and local government will provide an even wider range of historical, ecological and political perspectives.
On display beneath the span of the Bridge will be a framed copy of Jefferson’s deed, first registered in the Botetourt courthouse, just before his political career would skyrocket. Only four years later, during the Revolutionary War itself, Rockbridge would be jointly carved from Botetourt and Augusta counties in 1778, and named for what he sometimes called “The Rock Bridge.”
After the opening ceremonies, attendees can enjoy a Fourth of July cookout lunch at the Cedar Creek pavilion. Between 1 and 4 p.m., visitors can choose from a range of interactive demonstrations by park rangers, and illustrated presentations at the Visitor Center given by experts from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Rockbridge Historical Society, and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.
During the week of the anniversary, the News-Gazette will publish a more extensive feature detailing the historical contexts and the lasting cultural and environmental impact of Jefferson’s purchase.
For more information, go to virginiastateparks.gov/ va250 or contact [email protected].
